How big are these tumours?

Hi Lydney76

First of all may I welcome you to the forum, its a good place for find reliable information and support.

I am sorry to hear about your dad and that he finds it hard to talk about things.

It is very good new that the chemo has reduced the tumours, I have no experience of tumours in the liver, but I'm sure others will be in touch very soon with their experiences.

Your dad should have been introduced to or given details of his Cancer Specialist Nurse/Key Worker.  They are there to support your dad and your his family through his treatment.  Ask your mum if she has the details and if so it may be an idea for her to speak to them.

Macmillan have a very good help and support line, the number is 0808 808 00 00 and it is available from 8:00am to 8:00pm s 7 days a week.  They are there to support anyone affected by cancer and I would suggest you contact them and ask if you could speak to who can help with information of secondary tumours in the liver.  Macmillan also have a good selection of leaflets, and you could also ask for them to send you anything that they feel is appropriate.

Other good sources of up to date and reliable information are the CRUK and Bowel Cancer UK websites.

The clinicians can often get things wrong with regard to life expectancy, and there are many on here who are living far beyond the time frame they were given.  

It is also important that you look after your mum as well as your dad and she will need support too.  There is a Carers Forum on here and she may like to look at that and perhaps join. AND don't forget to look after yourself too, as it can be very stressful seeing someone you love going through treatment.

Please keep in touch and let us know how your dad is getting on.

Take care,

VickiLynne

Hi ,

Its all very stressful at times . Can I just ask you if you mean 14 cm as opposed to 14 mm  in the liver and bowel ? 

14 mm down to 7 mm is tiny ! Maybe it would help if I shared a bit of my mum’s liver history . The liver is a really massive organ , divided into eight segments over two lobes . . My mum had five liver mets from segment four through to eight . One tumour alone was around 5 cm . After chemo it was not visible on the scan . In total she has had over ten mets on her liver Over two years  but she responds well to chemo .She has 73% removed . Location matters as much as size from what I can gather . 
 The fact that your dad has a 40% reduction with shrinkage is actually really good news . Being chemo responsive is what is hoped for and desirable. Given he also tolerated it well is another big plus . What happens next depends on the location of the mets and the approach of patient/ oncologist. Some will continue using chemo as a treatment of a chronic condition and you will see people having this over years . Others explore other ways to control the spread and seek out surgical or radio frequency ablation options . It really depends on where they are located and individual management plans . Each option has criteria that must be adhered to . 

I totally understand it creates anxiety when you only have limited information but one of the most pressing issues is being responsive to chemo . That’s such good news . My way of processing it was it mattered where it had spread to but mattered more that she responded to treatment .

Your dad sounds as though he is handling it all very well indeed . My mum had a similar approach whilst I have to be honest I was very frightened to begin with and it took a long time for me to start seeing it more as a chronic condition that required a team of people to monitor and treat when required .

Take care ,

Court 

Thank you Vicky.  

Thank you Court.  I'll have to get my Mum to send me a photo of the report as I'm not sure if I remembered it right.  I really hope your Mum is doing well.  Did her cancer start in the bowel too?  Yes definitly agree cancer is often a long term condition that can be managed.  Thats really helpful thanks I didn't relalise that it depends on location as well as size. 

Hi Court.

My Mum just sent me the photo of Dad's scan from March. 

It says the mets in Dad's liver is 45mm, shrank from 74mm  with another lesion somewhere in the liver 6mm shrank from 17mm 

Hi ,

That makes sense . He has had great shrinkage . That’s a very good response . 

What is his oncologists plan now ? Is he thinking about further chemo or adding other techniques like radio frequency ablation to help with disease management . I found it helpful to look into the criteria for such procedures. Gave me a bit of insight into it just for reference sake .

He is actually chemo responsive and that’s great when looking for disease management . I know you said your dad does not like to get too involved in the details and that is fine too.

Does that help give some clarity around his response ?

He has done very well indeed so far and not to have had too much difficulty is great too.

Take care ,

Court 

Hi Court  thank you for your reply.  Dad was supposed to start chemo again in June,  he shaved his hair and was looking forward to it.  We waited and waited then I rang them mid July and they invited Dad in for a scan to see the situation then arrange chemo.  Another 2 weeks wait and the results showed slight increase in tumours ,   liver tumour is  now 55mm ,  and muliple nodes in lungs,  the nusre said muliple nodes mean any amount over 3. 

About the same time begining of August Dad starting getting bad neck pain and vertigo (like feeling drunk he says)  

So now we are waiting  for the results of an urgent scan Dad had over a week ago on  head before treatment.  

I can understand the doctors needed to wait for results before sorting treatment but I'm starting to feel there has been too many delays and they take so long to do anything.  

Dad got prescribed steriods last week which is helping with tbe neck pain but he's feeling headachey and tired today.  

I feel he needs to get back on the chemp asap

Hi ,

I hope your dad gets his results soon . That sounds difficult for him . Hopefully though something easily treated . You could give them another call if you like . People can only wait so long for results of those nature .

To be honest given the length of time he has been off chemo you would expect some growth and only to have minimal growth is very good . My mum always had growth off chemo but she responded again the next time she recommenced chemo .

Hope you hear something tomorrow but it is also perfectly reasonable to give it some gentle pressure to facilitate his treatment . He is a strong man .

Hope you are coping ok too ? It’s all very stressful at Rome’s but you know you are advocating well for him and that really can change things for him . Well done you . You clearly care very much for him .

Court 

Hello Court, thanks for your reply, that sounds encouraging,  glad ur Mum is doing well and its great to hear she responds well even after getting some growth.  I rang again today, its been over a week now since Dad has his urgent head scan, they still don't have the results, I'll keep trying.  Yes I agree, just to keep ringing and being polite is the best way to handle it,  Dad's been getting headaches this week, before all this he never got ill at all, so its not like him.  

Thank u for ur kind words 

Rachel